Incanto degli Gnomi

A fairy-tale festival in the heart of the Romagna Apennines

The Incanto degli Gnomi is the event dedicated to families that enlivens Bagno di Romagna every September. This spa town is nestled in the upper Savio Valley, in the province of Forlì-Cesena, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. For a weekend, the Land of the Gnomes transforms into an enchanted kingdom, where children's imagination takes center stage amidst fairy-tale woods, wooden houses, and stone sculptures.

The Gnomes' Path

The heart of the event is the Sentiero degli Gnomi (Gnomes' Path), an easy and safe nature trail that starts from the town's public park. After crossing the bridge over the Savio River, it immediately immerses visitors in a fantasy world. The route, just over two kilometers long and taking about 45 minutes to walk, is dotted with small bridges, illustrated signs, animal cutouts, and little houses where children can leave messages for the gnomes. During the festival, the path comes alive with guided tours, treasure hunts, and fairy-tale walks with themed readings.

What to expect

The Incanto degli Gnomi program combines nature, entertainment, and creativity in a child-friendly schedule. Among the recurring activities in various editions:

• Guided hikes in the enchanted woods, including evening lantern-lit walks, with local environmental guides;
• Creative workshops such as Inventa-Gnomo (Invent-a-Gnome), where children build their own gnome with the help of artisans and theater groups;
• Shows and entertainment in Piazza Ricasoli, featuring juggling, comedy, and itinerant performances by the Compagnia di Gnomo Mentino;
• Themed games like the Gnomes' Olympics and a giant Snakes and Ladders game;
• Outdoor picnics with music, for sharing a fairy-tale lunch along the path.

A village to discover

The event is also an opportunity to discover Bagno di Romagna, an ancient spa town known since Roman times for its thermal waters and now the gateway to the Casentinesi Forests National Park. The natural setting, with its beech forests and trails, provides the ideal backdrop for an event that blends tradition, environment, and fantasy. The Incanto degli Gnomi is organized by the Union of Municipalities of the Savio Valley as part of the tourist project 'I Percorsi del Savio' (The Savio Paths).